Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Well we crossed over the border OK into Vietnam. We had met a few people so there were 7 of us trying to get to Hanoi. We spoke to the people at the border and they advised us that it was $35 for the bus. We walked straight away as that is so expensive for out here. We walked away from the border and ended up in a small horrible village where they were trying to make us stay in their hotel. Another bus then pulled up and tried to charge the same. We sat down and tried to find another way. When we realised that there were no other buses we tried to haggle. It took 2 hours in the end and we only got it down to $25 each. He kept driving away and then phoning the restaurant and coming back. The bus journey was really bad as well. It was a local bus and it kept stopping for randoms on the side of the road. After what felt like a million hours we got to another town where we had to change buses. We didn't realise that the driver was just going to flag down a bus that was going past with Hanoi on the front. The bus was packed with people already standing up. We had to put our bags down the aisle and sit on them. Not good. When we got to Hanoi we had to get a taxi to where the hostels were. They tried to rip us off again so we had to walk away once again and let them chase us. Once we got in a taxi it was crazy. They don't have any road rules out there. They drive on both sides of the road, they ignore traffic lights and as long as they use there horn they just cut in front of everyone. The next day we had a walk around town and it was very busy and very big. We bumped into Tallulah and Colleen again (our mates from Thailand and Laos). We headed back that night with our map and no lie it took 3 hours. Hayley had marked our hotel wrong on the map and we were walking around in all the wrong places. We got back in the end and chilled because we were too knackered to do anything after that. The next day we went and checked in at the drift hostel and looked around town a bit more. One day we went to go and see a water puppet show as it was supposed to be really good. It wasn't. We couldn't understand the story as it wasn't in English and the puppets were not exactly amazing. We also found a KFC that night so we had a nice dinner.
We booked a boat trip to HalongBay for 2 days 1 night. When we got up in the morning in was raining but it wasn't too bad. There were 13 of us on the boat. We had a nice lunch on the boat and then we went to some caves. After we went kayaking which was good as well. We then had a nice dinner and some drinks on the top of the boat. The next morning we woke up and it was pouring down. It stopped after about an hour and we got a little boat into a nice cove and saw some monkeys. We then went back and had lunch in a restaurant. It was a nice 2 days. On the way back we got dropped off at the ticket office as we had booked an open bus ticket to travel south through Vietnam. When we got on the bus we were shocked. We have had sleeper buses before but that normally meant the seat goes back quite far. This bus had 3 rows of bunk beds down it. It was so random. We went and got on our bunk beds but there was not enough leg room and I couldn't sleep properly because I felt like I was going to fall out every time we went round a corner. It was funny though. Our next stop was Hue and we stayed there for 1 night. We went out on a boat for a few hours and visited some sights. We then got dropped off at the market. It was the worst market ever. It was so cramped and so smelly. They have all the food just sitting out with no covers. The fish stinks and all the other meat is covered in flies. We left after about 5 mins and walked to a bar for some dinner and drinks. We went to another bar after and played Jenga for a bit. Its so funny because every time it fell down 2 of the bar staff would run over and build it back up for us. They were so friendly. The next day we got a bus to Hoi An. We stayed in a nice place there which had an indoor pool and everything. After we checked in we got some bicycles and rode to the beach. It was 4km away but it was nice ride. We sat on the beach for a bit and just chilled out. On the way home we stopped at a shop and I saw a nice dress. The lady said that she could measure me and make it for me and to pick it up tomorrow. It was only £3 so I was well impressed. We went out that night and had some dinner and drinks and once again it took a while to get home coz we got a bit lost. The next day we got the bikes again to the beach. It was a nice day. Me and Hayley went for a walk and found a man fishing with a long net. He was puling it in and said we could help getting the fish out. It was really hard because it's the kind of net where the fish swim into it and get tangled so me and Hayley were there trying to untangle the fish but they were so slimy it was hard. There were also some crabs but he didn't want them so me and Hayley took them back with us. I called mine Cameron and Hayley called hers twat. We kept them for a few hours with us on the beach and then we let them go. When the sun starts to go down the locals bring loads of chairs and blankets to the beach to serve dinner. We sat down and ordered but we waited ages. All the locals where getting served straight away and we asked bout 3 times and they said its coming. After a while we gave up and as we walked away they were begging for us to come back but it was too late. We had a nice dinner in a restaurant in the end. The next day we checked out and chilled for the day waiting for the sleeper bus that night. I took the bottom bunk this time so I couldn't fall out. Once again though I couldn't sleep because there were little cockroaches running around. I dozed off once and I woke up because it was running up my arm. It was horrible. Got to Nha Trang in the morning and it had a really nice beach there. We went on a booze cruise that night. It had dinner and drinks included which was really good. We slept in the next morning then went to the beach for a bit. Once again its too hot to sunbathe for long. We have been using factor 30 and 50 but its no good. We went on a boat trip the next day to a few islands. The first island me and Amy went snorkelling. There wasn't loads to see but I was just happy that I snorkelled. I normally panic because I don't like to be under water but I did it. We then had lunch on the boat which was really nice and the boat people got out some instruments and stated playing music for us. It was really good. They then said we could go in the water and go the floating bar. It was just a man in a big ring giving out wine but it looked funny. We then stopped at another island and stayed there for an hour and then the next island we went to an aquarium. When we got back we got ready for another sleeper bus journey that night. Once again it was horrible but we were getting a bit more used to it. We got to Saigon in the morning and we had planned to stay there for one night but it was just another town so we thought we might as well go straight to Cambodia as there was bus in half hour. Got on another bus for another long journey.
Cambodia next …
- comments